Medan authorities ban Aceh people's congress

MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): The provincial authorities have banned the Aceh Community Congress (Konggres Masyarakat Aceh), scheduled to begin on Monday and last through Friday, citing security reasons.

Spokesman for the North Sumatra administration Eddy Syofian said on Monday that the organizing committee submitted a request for a permit only on March 23.

"We were pressed for time to arrange everything, including the security of the congress participants," he said.

He said that the provincial authorities would need at least three months to prepare for the congress, which was scheduled to be opened by President Abdurrahman Wahid at the Emerald Garden Hotel.

"If the committee insists on holding the congress, please find another place outside North Sumatra," Eddy said, quoting the result of a meeting between Governor Tengku Rizal Nurdin and, among others, provincial police chief Brig. Gen. Sutanto and Bukit Barisan Military Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Asril Hamzah Tanjung, on the matter.

Spokesman for the organizing committee Nur Nikmat, who is also an Acehnese figure, said he had no idea why the authorities abruptly banned the planned congress.

"We have lost Rp 500 million in accommodation expenses," he said.

He added, however, that the organizers would not sue the provincial administration for the losses resulting from the cancellation.

Minister of Law and Legislation Yusril Ihza Mahendra, who was here on Monday, said that the congress organizers did not need to ask for a permit for the congress.

"There is no special permit for a congress. A written notice to the authorities is enough," Yusril said.

Meanwhile, in the Aceh capital of Banda Aceh, Free Aceh Movement (GAM) military commander Tengku Abdullah Syafi'ie claimed to have warned Acehnese not to join the event prior to the cancellation of the congress.

Speaking to the local daily Serambi Indonesia, Abdullah prohibited Aceh people from joining the Medan congress because "it was set up by certain parties who want to take advantage of the tragedy and misery of the Acehnese."

"I forbid Aceh people from joining the event. If they continue to do so, then we will no longer consider them as Aceh citizens," Abdullah told the daily by over the weekend.

Abdullah, however, refused to comment on the congress and said that any talks or diplomatic efforts must be discussed directly with GAM leader in exile Hasan Tiro.

Another congress, the Aceh People's Congress, will be held in Banda Aceh from April 22 through April 28.

State Minister of Human Rights Hasballah M. Saad has pledged security assurance for separatist rebels who wish to attend both congresses in Medan and Aceh.

In another related development, violence continued to rock Aceh as an unidentified armed gang shot dead two security personnel, Pvt. Fitriyanto Susanto and civilian guard Herman Arief, in Ujong Blang village in Beutong district, West Aceh, on Sunday.

The two were paroling the area on a motorbike when suddenly an armed gang ambushed and fired on them, local police chief Lt. Col. Her Aris Sumarman said.

At least seven people have died in separate incidents over the weekend, bringing the death toll in the strife-torn province to almost 300 this year. (39/50/edt/sur)